The angry response was not long in coming. China chastised on Monday, September 19 the recent remarks by US President Joe Biden, who once again assured that the United States would defend Taiwan in the event of Chinese intervention, Beijing denounced a “Serious violation” diplomatic promises from Washington.
America ready to ‘militarily defend’ Taiwan: Biden’s phrase may not have been a gaffe
These words of Joe Biden constitute “a grave violation of the important United States commitment not to support Taiwan’s independence”reacted Mao Ning, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “This sends a bad, serious signal (of support) to the separatist forces campaigning for Taiwan’s independence”he told the press.
The continuation after the announcement
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A position already announced at the end of May
During an interview on CBS television on Sunday, Joe Biden said that the United States will defend the “si an unprecedented attack had to occur ”.
Joe Biden had already annoyed Beijing by saying last May that the United States would intervene militarily in support of Taiwan in the event of an invasion of Communist China. Then he came back, affirming his attachment to him “Strategic ambiguity”.
Taiwan: the powder keg that could set the world on fire
China believes that Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, is one of its provinces that has not yet managed to reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese civil war (1949). In seven decades, the Communist army has never been able to take over the island, which has remained under the control of the Republic of China, the regime that once ruled mainland China and now only rules Taiwan.
With three joint press releases signed in 1972, 1979 and 1982, the United States specifically committed to recognizing the Beijing government as China’s sole legitimate representative. Washington severed its diplomatic ties with Taipei in 1979.
The continuation after the announcement
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Sino-US relations to the downside
Joe Biden’s remarks come after a significant rapprochement between the United States and Taiwan, at a time when Beijing-Washington relations are at their lowest in recent decades.
On Wednesday, a bill providing for the first direct US military aid to Taiwan passed a milestone in Congress. A few days earlier, Washington had announced the sale of arms to Taipei for 1.1 billion dollars.
In early August, the visit to the island by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, also provoked Beijing’s fury.
“We urge the US side to fully recognize the extreme importance and high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue. […] so as not to further damage China-US relations “.said Mao Ning. Questioned by the AFP, a White House spokesperson said on Sunday that US policy towards Taiwan does not“hadn’t changed”.
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